Portable container



Deg. 12, 1944. F. J. OBRIEN 2,365,099

PORTABLE CONTAINER Filed Aug. 13, 1942 Patented Dec. 12, 1944 PORTABLECONTAINER Frank J. OBrien, Pelham, N. Y., assignor to 0011- tinental CanCompany, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York ApplicationAugust 13, 1942, Serial 454,695- 2' Claims. (or 220-92) 1 This inventionrelates to portable containers and more particularly to closed topcontainers equipped with carrying bails.

Conventionally constructed containers of the class referred to areequipped with a generally semi-circular bail extending across thecontainer and having its opposite ends projected downwardly forconnection to mounting ears secured to the container side wall or wallsat a level somewhat below the top of the container. When the bail is notused for carrying, for example during storin or shipping of thecontainer, the ball is folded down against the side of the container.This not only interferes somewhat with the compact storing of containersbut is apt to result in bending or otherwise damaging the balls, or inscratching or marring labels or markings on the containers.

It heretofore has been proposed to eliminate or minimize thesedifiiculties by constructing and mounting the bail in such manner thatwhen not in use it will be turned or folded down against the top of thecontainer. Still more'particularly the present invention relates to thisclass of bailequipped container construction and the general aim orpurpose of the invention is to provide an improved, simple, and strongconstruction in which a bail is so mounted on or connected toa containerthat when in use for carrying the container, the bail will be disposedin the same or substantially the same position as a conventional bail,and when not in use may be positioned-snugly with respect to the top ofthe container without extending across or around the container sidewall.

An object of the invention is to provide a portable closed top containerwith a carrying bail so mounted on the container as to be capable ofbeing folded down against the container top wall and below the top edgeof the container side wall.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container of thecharacter described in which the connection of the bail to the containeris effected by strong and simple bail anchors adapted to be securelyafiixed to the container but being easily detachable therefrom tofacilitate removal of the container top.

A further object of the invention is to provide a portable container ofthe kind referred to having bail mounting or anchoring means especiallyadapted or suited for connection to a container of the type wherein atop wall is double seamed to a side wall, the top wall being disposedsomewhat below the top edge of the seam.

Other objects will become apparent from a reading of the followingdetailed description, the appended claims, andthe accompanying drawmg. y

In'the drawing: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a container and bailtype carrying means embodying the invention, a part of the containedside wall and bottom being broken away.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan view drawn on an enlarged scale andshowing anchoring means for attaching a carrying bail to a container. a

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical section drawn on an enlarged scale, abail anchor and a portion of the bail being shown in elevation.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but showing a modification; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary top plan view modification shown in Figure 4.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 3inclusive,a bail generally designated A is hinged to bail anchor members13 which are connected or secured in any suitable manner to a containerC.

The container includes a side wall I, and top and bottom walls 2 and 3secured to the side wall by double seams of well known form shownrespectively at 4 and 5. The top wall 2 is disposed below the top of theside wall I, thereby providing a recess or depression 6 surrounded bythe seam. lor, otherwise stated, by the upper portion of the side wallI.

In accordance with the invention, the'bail A is hinge-connected to thecontainer within the depression 6 and is so-shaped and sized that whennot in use for carrying the container, the bail may be folded downagainst the top wall 2 and to then be nested within the depression 6 soas not to protrude above the container. For so mounting the bail, theanchors B are connected to the container at opposite sides of thelatter. Each anchor may comprise a member formed of strip or wire-likematerial bent at its lower end to provideahook 1 extending into theopening 8 of a horizontally apertured ear 9 appropriately secured to thecontainer somewhat below the seam 4. Each anchor member B furtherincludes a portion Ill extending vertically from the hook I alongside ofthewall l and seam 4, a portion l l extending inwardly overthe seam 4,a, portion [2 extending downwardly in'contactwith the inside of the seam4 and into the depression 6, a portion l3 extending horizontally incontact with the inside of the seam 4, a portion [4 extending of thehorizontally and inwardly away from the portion l3, and a verticallydisposed eye l5 at the end of the portion M. The bail A is provided witheyes H5 at its opposite ends respectively looped through the anchor eyesl5 for hinging the bail to the container.

When the container is to be stored or shipped, the bail A may be foldeddown to the position shown in full lines in Figure .1 wherein .it .isdisposed within the depression 6 so as not to interfere with stacking orboxing of a plurality of containers. When a container is to be carriedindividually, the bail is turned up to the position shown in dottedlines in Figure 1 wherein it disposed relatively to the containerin thesame general manner as a conventional carrying i-bail.

The anchors B are stout enough to reenforce the connection between theside and top walls I and 2, thereby reducing the danger ordamaging theseam 4 sufficiently. to cause a leak. However, the anchors may be madewith a lightness or yieldability suilicient to permit their being sprungloose .and removed when it is desired toopen the container. The anchorsmay be removed easily by inserting any simple instrument or tool betweenthe vertically extending anchor portion 1 0 and the sidewall l and thenprying outwardly to dislodge the hook .1 from the ear '9. Removal of ithe anchors would not be necessary, however, when the invention :isenihodied'in cans equipped with a friction top structure including aring portion seamed to the top of the can body and a closure portionfrictionally held within the ring portion.

The modified embodiment shown in Figures 4 and 5 is similar to thatdescribed above with the exception that in the modification specificallydifferent anchors B are provided. These parts of the modifiedconstruction which are the same as parts in the construction firstdescribed are .designated by corresponding reference characters. Thebail anchors B are of -modified construction, each including a hook 1'extending into the aperture 8 of the associated ear 9, a verticallyextending portion I0 disposed alongside and in contact with the outsideof the seam l, a portion H extending inwardly over the scam I, a portionl2" extending downwardly alongside and in contact with the inner face ofthe seam I and a horizontally disposed eye I5 through which the eye IQof the contiguous end of the ball is looped.

It will be observed that in .both illustrative embodiments of theinvention, the anchors are shaped to embrace the outside, .top, andinside faces of the double seam 4 in yieldable clamping relationtherewith, therebysecurely attaching the anchors to the container andreenforcing the joint between the side and top walls I and 2.

The constructions shown herein embody the invention in the forms nowpreferred but it will be understood that changes maybe made withoutdeparting from the invention as defined in the claims.

I claim:

1. The combination with a container having a side wall, and a top wallsecured thereto; of a bail type'carrying means comprising two hori-'zontally apertured ears secured to said. container side wall at oppositesides of the container and spaced below the top of the container; twobail anchors connected respectively to said ears, each of said anchorscomprising a hook having its free end portion extending inwardly towardsaid side wall into the aperture in the associated ear and beingdetachable from said ear by movement of said hook outwardly from saidside wall,- a porbail type carrying means comprising two horizontallyapertured ears secured to said container side wall at oppositesides ofthe container and spaced below the top of the container; two bailanchors connected respectively to said ears, each of said anchorscomprising -a hook having its free end portion extending inwardly towardsaid side wall into the aperture in the associated ear and beingdetachable from .said ear by movement of said hook outwardly from saidsidewall, a portion extending vertically from :said .hook alongside andin "yieldable clamping relation to said side wall, a portion extendinginwardly over and in yieldable clamping relation to the top of said sidewall, and a portion extending from said last named portion and beingdisposed over and in yieldable clamping relation to the container topwall and terminating in an eye, and a bail having its opposite endslooped through the anchor eyes respectively.

,8. The combination with a container having a sidewall, and a top walldisposed below the top edge of the side wall to provide a depressionsurrounded by the upper portion of the side wall; of a bail typecarrying means comprising two horizontally apertured ears secured tosaid container side wall at opposite sides or the container and spacedbelow the top of the container, two bail anchors connected respectivelyto said ears, each of said anchors comprising a hook having its free endportion extending inwardly toward said side wall into the aperture inthe associated ear and being detachable from said ear by movement ofsaid hook outwardly from said side wall, a portion extending verticallyfrom said hook alongside said sidewall, a portion extending inwardlyover the top of said side wall, and a portion extending thencedownwardly into said depression and terminating in an eye, and a bailhaving its opposite ends looped through the anchor eyes respectively.

4. The combination with a container having a side wall, a top wall, anda double seam conneotion between said side and top walls, the top wallbeing disposed below the top edge of said seam connection to provide adepression surrounded by said seam connection; of a bail type carryingmeans comprising two horizontally apertured ears secured to saidcontainer side wall at opposite sides of the container respectively, twobail anchors connected respectively to said ears, each of said anchorscomprising a, hook engaged in the aperture of the associated ear andextending from said hook upwardly 'in contact with the outside of saiddouble seam, thence over and in contact with the top of said doubleseam, thence downwardly and in contact with the inside of said doubleseam and terminating in an eye disposed over said top wall, and a bailhaving its opposite ends looped respectively through the anchor eyes.

5. The combination with a container having asidewall, a top wall, and adouble seam connection between said side and top walls, the top wallbeing disposed below the top edge of said seam connection to provide adepression surrounded by said seam connection; of a bail type carryingmeans comprising two horizontally apertured ears secured to saidcontainer side wall at opposite sides of the container respectively, twobail anchors connected respectively to said ears, each of said anchorscomprising a hook engaged in the aperture of the associated ear andextending 10 from said hook upwardly in contact with the out-

